From San Francisco to Hong Kong: Big City Glam
Nine years ago I began a new chapter in my life, when I moved from the suburbs of Los Angeles to San Francisco. When I first arrived in San Francisco, I was mesmerized by the people, the lifestyle, the mentality, and, of course, the dazzling city lights, all packed into 49 square miles. Dropping out of school and entering the world of hair, makeup, and fashion was a direct reflection of the way San Francisco’s freewheeling spirit made me feel.
After becoming a licensed cosmetologist at the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, I had the urge to learn more. More about the beauty industry. More about business. More about life.
San Francisco and its innovative startup culture inspired so many ideas and business thoughts, leading me to further my education and experience. I moved to London. Then Los Angeles. Then Zürich. And somehow, I have ended up in Hong Kong. As odd as it may sound, Hong Kong has brought back the same emotions and excitement I felt for the first time in San Francisco.
Obviously, Hong Kong and San Francisco are two very different cities. But the similarities between these two cities are unbelievable: the posh lifestyles, the exploding food scenes, the high-end shopping, and the understated fashion and beauty of professional women. “Big city” women know how to do it right.
Here are a few chic style and beauty trends that have caught my attention during my first few months living in Hong Kong.
Style & Shoes
As colorful and vibrant as Hong Kong is, many women here dress in mostly black and some white. Despite the rain and sheer amount of walking one must do to get to and from work here, shoes always make a statement.
Makeup
A daily makeup look is all about a bold lip and bold brows. Reds and pinks are the norm.
Nails
Women always have clean, feminine, and perfectly manicured fingernails. The tones remain very subtle in natural pinks and nudes. Sometimes the choice is a simple, clear polish, but it looks so chic!
Hair
And last, but certainly not least, is the hair. Sleek is the way to go. Whether it’s up or down, hair seems to be very smooth and tamed. Not a single strand out of place. No curls, waves, or frizz for these ladies. They like to look sharp!
Even though I no longer live in San Francisco, I am inspired by the understated fashion of chic women in these cosmopolitan cities. As I learned in San Francisco: less is more. Since the launch of On Location Glam here in Hong Kong, the hair and makeup requests are very similar to the trends shown above.
Stay tuned for a quick and easy glam guide on how to freshen up your look from “Desk to Dusk”.
